FMMC Holds Lamp Lighting Ceremony of GNM and BSc Nursing Students
Mangaluru: The Lamp Lighting and Oath Taking Ceremony of 62nd batch of GNM and 33rd batch of BSc Nursing students of Father Muller School and College of Nursing was held on January 2nd 2020, at Father Muller Convention Centre-Mini Hall. The program commenced with a prayer song by 2nd-year GNM Nursing students followed by the Lamp Lighting Ceremony.
Dr Sonia R B D’Souza, Professor Manipal College of Nursing was the Chief Guest of the ceremony. Sr Janet D’Souza, Principal, College of Nursing delivered the welcome note. As a sign of honor and respect, the dignitaries offered flowers to the portraits of Florence Nightingale, founders of the nursing profession and Late Rev. Fr Augustus Muller, Founder of Father Muller Charitable Institutions.
Sr Janet D’Souza, Chief Nursing Officer spoke on the significance of the day. The nursing elders lit the lamps of 131 novice nursing students which symbolized passing on the light of wisdom, knowledge and compassion, following which they vowed to uphold their duties as nursing professionals, by swearing an oath, administered by Dr Devina Rodrigues, Vice Principal FMCON.
The Chief Guest, Prof. Dr Sonia R B D’Souza, in her address to the gathering applauded the students for firstly choosing the nursing profession as their vocation and secondly for choosing the Father Muller Institution for their studies, with these two they will get their due recognition. She spoke on the 3 ill’s which nurse should avoid being Ignorance, emotional instability; negligence and the 3 behaviors nurses should adorn are the presence of mind, right attitude and effective communication. Quoting Martin Luther Junior “ dark cannot remove darkness only light can, hate cannot remove hate, only love can”, the lit lamp and the song sung will help drive out the ignorance and society. Nursing is the only professions where the oath is administered in the first year unlike any other profession and hence also only called Student Nurse.
Rev. Fr Richard A. Coelho, Director FMCI and the president of the ceremony addressed the gathering doubling the dose of knowledge and advice to the new nurses. He emphasized the importance of empathy, discipline and commitment in a nursing vocation. Jesus Christ only being the only Healer, nurses are the facilitators to healing on earth. In a USA survey Nurses are the most trusted professionals and most respected. The promise today you have taken in the Name of God should always be remembered. The lethargy set in the nursing profession of late due to its high demand has resulted in inefficient academic performances. Classroom learning is the best and more so from your teachers. Without hard work no one can be a professional, competency is acquired with interest alone and the respect for life from the very beginning has to be maintained. Predominantly nursing profession was female dominant but now, men are joining the noble profession. The light lit today should not be blown out evermore; the oil of life should always be full and the body like the lamp to serve all.
A memento was gifted to the Chief Guest by Rev. Fr Richard A Coelho as a token of gratitude. Christmas Carols were sung by students IInd year BSc and GNM nursing. Mrs. Jasmine Saritha Vas delivered the vote of thanks. Mrs. Merlin Fernandes and Mrs. Sonia D’Souza, Lecturers, compered the program.
Fr. Rudolf Ravi D’Sa, Administrator FMMCH, Fr. Ajith Menezes, Administrator of FMMC were present on the dais.
Fr. Nelson Dheeraj Pais, Assistant Administrator, FMMCH, Fr Felix Monteiro, Spiritual Guide, FMCI, staff, students and parents witnessed this event.
